Miller sparks Challengers to fourth at state

NORTH BEND — Cascade Christian's Alex Miller wouldn't be denied in the Class 3A state tournament fourth-place game Saturday.

NORTH BEND — Cascade Christian's Alex Miller wouldn't be denied in the Class 3A state tournament fourth-place game Saturday.

When Portland Adventist took a one-point lead in the third quarter, Miller was very expressive urging on his teammates during a timeout.

The senior point guard backed up his talk with a strong performance as the Challengers posted a 64-57 boys basketball victory over Portland Adventist at North Bend High.

"Alex wanted to go out in his last game on a good note and he got the guys pumped up," said Cascade Christian coach Brian Morse, who has guided the Challengers to six state tournament appearances in the past seven years.

Miller finished with a game-high 20 points on 8-for-11 shooting from the field and 4-for-5 from the line.

"(Miller) did a great job penetrating the key and pulling up for 8- to 10-foot jumpers," said Morse. "He also led our transition."

Cascade Christian (24-6) trailed 33-32 at halftime against the Lewis & Clark League runner-up but took control of the game in the second half by beating the Cougars' full-court press.

"When we extended the lead we were attacking and getting transition points," said Morse.

Junior post David Sellers pulled down 17 rebounds to help the Challengers win the battle on the boards, 34-31. Sellers also tallied 10 points.

"(Sellers) was real active," said Morse. "He boxed out well and went up high and grabbed the ball strong."

Jake Brown, a junior guard, gave Cascade a boost off the bench with 10 points.

"Jake Brown came in and gave us some explosive play," Morse said. "He attacked the basket."

Cascade Christian shot 52 percent from the field and was 13-for-17 from the line.

"It was nice to come back and win a trophy after losing on Thursday," Morse said. "Our kids stayed real focused."

LA SALLE 52, PHOENIX 26 — At Milwaukie, Sterling Swift hit two of her three 3-pointers in the third quarter to help La Salle increase its lead from 14 points to 34 in the first round of the Class 4A state playoffs.

Swift finished with 17 points and Morgan McSmith added 10 for the Falcons (22-3), who advanced to the eight-team state tournament next week in Corvallis.

Baylee Toney had five points and 16 rebounds, and Erika Marshall added 10 boards to pace Phoenix (17-9), which hit just 7 of 42 field goal attempts and committed 11 of its 23 turnovers in the third quarter.

During the game, the junior Toney broke the Pirates' single-season rebounding record, finishing the season with 263.

MAZAMA 82, SISTERS 44 — At Klamath Falls, Hannah Reynolds hit six 3-pointers on her way to a game-high 27 points as Mazama dominated the round of 16 playoff game to clinch a spot in next week's Class 4A girls basketball state tournament at Gill Coliseum in Corvallis.

The Vikings (24-2), who have won 21 games in a row, also received big scoring efforts from freshman Amber Lease (18 points) and Megan Morris (16 points), and will play Brookings-Harbor in the state quarterfinals at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday.